AutoPak Engineering Group, the only Puerto Rican company dedicated
to the design and manufacture of packing and material movement systems
(conveyors), will be taking part in Forum Innovation 2004, an event
hosted by Induniv (Industry University Research Consortium), May
12 - 14, at the Wyndham Condado Plaza Hotel, right after winning
the 2003 Outstanding Company Award in the Innovation category, given
by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) on April
29 last year.

Engineer Ignacio Muñoz-Guerra, president
of AutoPak, reported that this award was bestowed on his company
for the important innovations implemented during the last year,
especially for the design of the XA Modular Conveyor system, patented
in the US in September 2003. “This new stainless steel modular
conveyor provides the flexibility to adapt to each client’s
particular needs, since it is made of standard components and there
is no need to drill or weld,” said Muñoz-Guerra. He
also emphasized that, “the XA has an extremely hygienic design,
which makes it easier for companies to comply with the stringent
sanitary regulations of the pharmaceutical and food industries.”

Regarding Forum Innovation 2004, Eng. Muñoz-Guerra
said that they will be exhibiting precisely the XA together with
other services offered by AutoPak, “because our company focuses
on both the pharmaceutical and the food industry. Our work as designers,
manufacturers and integrators of packing systems and their different
components is aimed at analyzing and solving all our clients’
needs. We really are customer driven. This is what has boosted our
consistent development and success since our founding in 1985.”
AutoPak’s booth at Forum Innovation is #20.

AutoPak’s president expanded on the
XA, explaining that its great innovative feature is its modularity.
“The modular design has standard components, which makes it
simple to add or modify the system to meet the different manufacturing
needs of each customer. A new feature, called ToughKlamp, allows
the placement of all conveyor accessories on the body without drilling
or welding. ToughKlamp allows infinite positioning of accessories,
even when the production line is running! Another advantage of the
XA over other conveyors in the market is easy clean-up, to comply
with the strict regulations of the industries we work with.”

As part of its expansion strategies into
other markets, AutoPak has contracted with A.B. Isacson & Associates,
Inc. (ABI) in the United States —a business-to-business marketing
and public relations firm— and will be going back to PackExpo
International, November 7 - 11 this year, at McCormick Center in
Chicago, the annual tradeshow hosted by the US Packaging Machinery
Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), where AutoPak is a member. AutoPak’s
booth at this important international event will be N-3724.

AutoPak Engineering Group is located in Caguas
in a 40,000-square foot site with over 50 employees, including engineers,
designers, packing technicians and managerial and clerical staff.
Induniv, created by the private industry in 1985 to combine the
efforts of industry, academia and government, hosts the Forum for
Innovation each year so that these three sectors may converge at
one time and place to facilitate mutual collaboration. The event
is sponsored by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company,
Hewlett Packard, the Material Characterization Center (MCC), and
the Center for Packaging Technology (CAPTech).